Interest in nonlinear optical (NLO) materials for mid-infrared frequency conversion has exploded in recent years largely due to the emergence of new ultrafast laser applications ranging from frequency-comb-based spectroscopy to high harmonic and THz generation. Here we discuss how to advance the state of the art of the best commercially available materials in the mid-IR, including the bulk birefringent crystals CdSiP2, ZnGeP2, and GaSe, as well as quasi-phase-matched orientation-patterned GaAs and GaP, and we point to emerging materials that need further development to extend the performance of widely-used near-infrared pump sources deeper into the infrared (to 12 microns and beyond).
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